Shank-grip, slidable jaw wrench



Mwah 23 W51 m. M. @H055 WEWWD SHAW-GRIP, SLIDABLE JAW WRENCH Filed May28, 1955 4 Sheets-$heet l Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE This invention relates to wrenches of the adjustable type,wherein a movable jaw is adjustable in relation to a xed jaw toaccommodate various sizes of work; and relates, more particularly, tosuch wrenches f the sliding jaw type as that described in my earlierUnited States Patent No. 2,509,637 wherein movement of the adjustablejaw is effected without the aid of threaded adjusting nuts or otherequivalent operating mechanisms.

The present invention still further avoids the use of ratchet or rackmeans, with their limitations as to precise adjustment, for locking themovable jaw in positions of operative setting; and provides for a simplemanually slidable mounting of the movable jaw on the head of the wrenchin such manner that it may be readily moved by the thumb of the operatorinto and out of working position, although pressure of work against thegripping face of the said movable jaw will effect a binding abutment ofthe jaw member with opposed surfaces of the wrench head which willthereby effectively lock the movable jaw against outward movement fromthe fixed jaw as long as pressure of the work is maintained against saidmovable jaw.

Still further objects or advantages additional or subsidiary to theaforesaid objects, or resulting from the construction or operation ofthe invention as it may be carried into effect, will become apparent asthe said invention is hereinafter further disclosed.

In carrying the said invention into effect, I may adopt the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, by way ofexample, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side ing-jaw end wrench;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the wrench;

Figure 3 is a perspective detail view of the head portion of the wrenchincluding the fixed 13W;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective detail View of the movable slidingjaw, showing associated parts;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram indicating lines of force, with themovable jaw member only being shown in section on a plane indicated bythe line 5-5 in Figure 2 for the sake of clarity:

Figure 6 is a side view of a modified form of adjustable wrench, similarto Figure 1, the handle being shown in fragmentary form;

Figure 7 is a right side edge view of the arrangement of Figure 6;

View of my improved slid- Figure 8 is a similar edge view of theslidable jaw member removed from Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a further modied form of this device,the handle being shown in fragmentary form;

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on a plane indicatedby the line |0*|0 in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a right edge view of the arrangement of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of Figure 9; and

Figure 13 is a right edge view of slidable jaw member removed fromFigure 9.

Similar' characters of reference indicate similar parts of the severalgures of the drawings.

Referring first to the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive;20 indicates the handle of an adjustable end wrench having a broadenedhead portion generally numbered 2| which terminates in a fixed jaw 22 asin the manner usual in this type of wrench.

23 indicates the outer end surface proper of the wrench head, whichsurface, for the purpose of this description, forms a angle with theface of gripping surface of the fixed jaw 22.

The movable jaw 24 extends from a slidable jaw member 25 which is guidedand interlocked with the broadened head 2| in the simple and uniquemanner about to be described, which ensures a very free and easyoperation of the adjustable jaw to or away from a work-gripping positionby mere thumb pressure of the operator on the said slidable jaw member25.

The said movable jaw 24 overlaps the outer end surface 23 of the wrenchhead, but does not touch at any point along this line, as shown isindicated at reference number I9 in Figure 2.

The interlocking arrangement about to be described assures an automaticlocking of the said slidable member 25 on the head 2| of the wrench inits work-gripping position when the jaws 22 and 24 are subjected to aspreading tendency by reactive pressure of the Work thereon when thewrench is in use.

Referring now, more particularly, to the diagram Figure 5, it will benoted that the sliding jaw member 25 which overlaps the face of thewrench head 2|, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, is provided on itsabutting surface with one or more, but preferably two, tongues |25 and225 which normally loosely fit one or more into corresponding grooves|22 and 220, respectively, formed in the opposedl face of the wrenchhead 2|.

These grooves extend in a direction substantailly parallel with the endsurface 23 of the I against the gripping ace of the jaw said head, andare characterized by the iact that they both taper in width (toward aleft hand direction, as indicated in Figure l) whereby the spacing ofthe upper and lower walls of each o these grooves diminishes in adirection toward the gripping surface of the movable jaw 2li.

This sliding jaw member 25 is provided on its abutting surface opposingthe face oi the wrench head 2i with tongues |25 and 225 normally looselyntting into corresponding grooves |22 and 22B, respectively, formed inthe opposed face oi the said wrench head 2|, as clearly shown in thediagram, Figure 5.

While the spacing of the upper and lower walls of each or" these grooves|22 and 222 increases in height in a direction away from the gripping orfriction surfaces of the movable jaw 2d, the upper and lower edges ofthe tongues |25 and 225 are parallel throughout almost their entirelength.

t will be seen, from an examination of Figure 5, that movement ci thejaw 22 away from the fixed jaw 22 to widen the opening between the jawsto receive work, will result in the upper and lower walls 3| and 2t (and2li and 33) progressively encroaching on the upper and lower edges ofthe said tongues |25 and 225.

1t should be understood that this angie of tapering on main body member2| is actually very slight and, for satisfactory results in theoperation of the device, it is intended that the taper oi the upper andlower friction faces of each of the said grooves |22 and 22d shall notexceed an included angle of -60, so that' the clearance at any timebetween the lower and upper edges of the tongues of |25 and and theopposed abutment faces 2S and El or the groove i222 (and 23 and 22 oithe groove 22e) will not exceed that which will permit a rocking of thegripping face of the jaw 22 in excess oi 2, in the manner indicated bythe broken line A in Figure l.

t is intended that the rocking angle o1" the said jaw 2d shall alsoinclude that whichis due to the normal flexing of the said jaw 2d, whensubjected to the maximum forces imposed thereon when the wrench isoperated on work of the character which it is designed to cope with.

in the diagram, Figure 5, l have indicated a point at 24 which may beregarded as an assumed center about which the movable jaw member 25rocks when subjected to the pessure or work 22; so that it will followthat, when the movable law niember is applied to the head of a bolt, nutor other such work, this rocking will result in the correspondingangular movement of the tongues |25 and 225 in their grooves so thatdiagonally opposite corners Sil and 2t of the tongue |25 (and 2l and 82oi the tongue 225) are brought into forceful contact with the surfaces2| and 23 of the groove 22 and 22 and 23 of the groove 22S.

To increase the area or" such contact under these circumstances theseparticular corners of the said tongues arebevelled on to a very slightdegree, as shown to an exaggerated degree by the short heavy lines attil, 25, 2l, and t2 in Figures l and 5 of the drawings.

rThe broad head 2| of the wrench is sho-wn as being longitudinallyslotted at 4i) in the direction of jaw movement to receive a stud dipassing freely therethrough and secured to member l by peening the endof stud 4| over a spring washer l2 located in the counterbore i2 wherebyto provide a degree ci pressure between opposed surtongues |25 or 225 ati faces of the wrench head member 2| and jaw member 25 and thus maintaineach member in definite relationship to accommodate various sizes ofwork and to prevent total or undesired separation oi the two saidmembers.

It should be noted that this stud is not a pivot and merely floats inthe slot 49.

The operation or this wrench is extremely simple. To close the movablejaw 24 upon the flats of a nut, or upon other work, the pressure of thethumb is exerted on the outer edge ofthe movable member 25 (as at thepoint indicated by the letter B in Figure l) while the handle of thewrench is held by the fingers and palm of theV same hand, and, when themovable jaw contacts the work, continued by slight pressure of the thumbin the same direction results in a slight tilting of the said member andconsequently of its tongues |25 and 225 into abutment with the upper andlower faces of the grooves 22 and 229. D is counterclockwise movement ofthe wrench handle and l'l is clockwise movement thereof as viewed in thedrawing.

The pressure of this abutment is amplified by any pressure exerted onthe gripper laces of the jaws 22 and 24 by the operator by the wrench inapplying a clockwise or counter-clockwise turning effort to the workresulting in pressure at points 124 and 23 in the one case, and atpoints l5 and 115 in the other case.

lt should also be noted as an important feature oi the arrangementdescribed that, while pri- -marily the rocking oi jaw member 25 upon thejaws being initially engaged with `work will theoretically result in twoinitial points of pressure contact at, say, 25 and 21 upon the surfaces22 and 2S, of member 25, the result oi flexing of the member 25 underfinal load is to emphasize a third contact between one or other or" thethe point 32 or 32 against the opposed surface of the fixed wrench headas at 3| or 33.

Consequently, as spreading pressure is exerted against the grippingfaces oi the jaws stand 22, irictional resistance between the tonguesand the face walls oi the grooves is augmented to further resist anyundesired spreading apart ci the jaws oi the wrench.

To close the movable jaw 24 toward the iixed jaw 22, it is merelynecessary to press with the thumb at point B, Figure l. Conversely, toopen the jaws the thumb is pressed at the point C, Figure 1. In thisway, abutment pressure between the tongues |25 and 225 and the opposedfaces of the grooves 22 and 222 is readily relieved to permit adjustmentof the jaw 24 relative to the iiXed jaw 22.

As explained, the said jaw 24 will be firmly locked in operativeposition on the Work by reactive pressure applied to the jaws resultingfrom operation of the handle of the wrench inthe usual manner in eitherdirection, even though the thumb is no longer exerting pressure upon theedge B jaw 24 but is being used to obtain a complete grip on the handleoi the wrench.

Referring to modification shown in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive; thismodiiied form of adjustable end wrench incorporates practically thesaine principles as shown in Figure l. The principal departure therefromis embodied in the fact that the main body member 48 carrying the fixedjaw 48 forms a housing for the movable member 52 carrying the jaw 5|.This member 52 slides between tapered longitudinal dual grooves 52 and53 formed in the member .42, and contacts latthe point eral wall faces53 set on a 15 angle (as are the faces of the contact surfaces at 47 inFigures 2 and 3). The longitudinal tapering of these grooves 52 (Figure7) increases in perpendicular height as grooves approach fixed jaw 45,as in the arrangement of Figures l and 5.

The member has a bottom bearing contact 54 as shown in Figures 7 and 8,and also has contact with the inclined faces 53 at 55 when work is heldbetween jaws 49 and 5|. In the side view, Figure 6, shows jaw 5| asshown in broken lines in a forward position, tipped toward xed jaw 49,to illustrate the tilting function of the jaw member 50.

The natural position of said jaw member 5i] is resting with its contactsurface 55 in abutting with groove wall face 53 and held in verticalposition by a spring 55 bearing on the member at 5l and pressing themember 50 up and back so that its face is tilted as indicated by thedotted. line F, in Figure 6. The said spring 56 includes one completecoil with its lower end turned up 58 and resting on bottom channel at 59(Figure 7).

The true horizontal end face 61| of the member forms a 90 angle withface of the xed jaw 49, and the under surfaces 6| of the movable jaw 5|is longitudinally inclined and only contacts the face 5D when finalpressure load is applied to the handle 62. The limit of travel of thejaw 5| and member 50 on the fixed head of the wrench is determined bythe abutment E3.

The operation of this Wrench is simple: to close the movable jaw 5| uponthe work, the pressure of the thumb is exerted on the outer edge ofthemovable jaw at 5| while the handle of the wrench is held by the fingersand palm of the same hand, and, whe-n the said movable jaw 5;! contactsthe work, it seats itself at F, whereupon the dual tongues 55 pressabutments 53 on the member 48 and the lower tongue 54 presses againstthe dual walls 52. The handle of the wrench completes this operation, inthe example, Figure 1. To open, it is only necessary to pull with thefingers on the movable jaw at 5 I.

Attention is now directed to the second modification shown in Figures 9to 13, inclusive. In this arrangement a modified form of adjustable endwrench incorporating the principle of using one or more tapered grooveswherein a tongue on the movable jaw member initially binds betweentapered groove walls upon working pressure being applied to the jaws ofthe Wrench, and a third point of pressure brought into effect uponapplication of additional working pressure to the wrench handle toheighten the resistance to undesired separating motion of the jaws.

In this last example the movable jaw |54 extends from a movable saddlemember 65 which is divided into two flange portions 66 and 83 betweenwhich the broadened head 68 of this Wrench extends, as very clearlyshown in Figure 12.

The flange 66 is provided with a tongue |66 (Figure 10) engaging in acorresponding transverse groove |51 formed in the wrench head 68, theupper and lower walls 69 and 10 respectively of this groove convergingin the direction of the opening movement of the jaw 64 in the manner ofthe corresponding grooves referred to in the earlier examples describedand illustrated.

It is preferred that these walls 69 and 1|) be somewhat bevelled withrespect to one another, as clearly shown in Figure 10, so that saidgroove |61 is somewhat of a dovetail form in cross-secagainst the uppertion; and that the upper and lower edges of the tongue |55 be similarlybevelled to conform therewith, as will be obvious. 7| and 72 correspondto and operate in the manner of points of pressure contact 35 and 25 ofFigure 5.

The liange member 83 has no tongue and its lower edge rides on atransversely extending shoulder ii In Figure 9, the dotted line 'I4represents the position of the face of the movable jaw when in grippingcontact with the work (which is also the position occupied by the faceof the movable jaw when normally at rest and rocked to that position bya compression spring l'5 which is housed in the lower end of the flange56). This spring is provided with a wear-resisting button 'lli which isconstantly pressed against the lower face i5 of the groove |51.

The said movable saddle member 55 has an internal surface 'f5 extendingbetween the two flange-s, and slightly spaced from the upper edge 'il ofthe head 55, so that this surface 'I8 will only come into contact withsaid edge l1 when pressure of the work on the movable jaw is sufiicientto flex the saddle member to such an extent. The maximum travel of thejaw |34 and saddle member 55 is limited by suitably positioned abutmentstops 30.

To close this wrench on the work, the movable iaw simply pressed withthe thumb on the outer edge near the stop 8|! while the handle 19 of theWrench is held by the ngers and palm of the sam-e This pressure tiltsthe movable jaw 54 so that its face assumes the position shown in fulllines at 13 in Figure 9, and, when the movable jaw contacts the work, itis again forced to the position indicated by the drift line lfl thuscausing the upper face 'il of the tongue |55 to come into frictionalabutment with the upper face 59 while the lower edge l2 of the flange 5tis rocked into frictional gripping engagement with lower face 'Ill ofthe groove |51. This gripping of the opposed faces secures the movablejaw 64 in its working position against being disturbed when the handleof the wrench is operated in either of its directions.

It will be observed, from the foregoing examples, that my improved typeof wrench is characterized by the movable jaw being carried by a membertransversely slidable over vthe face of the head of the wrench (whichcarries the fixed jaw), the said member and the opposed face of thewrench head having interlocking tongue and groove guiding means in whichthe upper and lower spacing of such tongue and groove arrangement is ofa tapered nature becoming progressively restricted as the movable jaw ismoved outwardly of the said fixed jaw; the interlocking of said wrenchhead and said movable member is further characterized by opposedsurfaces coming into abutment at two separated points, upon a slightinitial rocking of the movable jaw outwardly from the fixed jaw when thewrench is applied to work, with a third point of abutment occurring whenadditional rocking force is exerted against said movable jaw byadditional applied pressure of the wrench to the work.

It should also be noted that, while in Figure 5, for example, both ofthe grooves |22 and 220 are shown as being tapered in form (this being apreferred arrangement), they need not necessarily be so as only one orother of these grooves may be of a tapered nature and a reasonably 7'satisfactorily operating device obtained where a cheaper form ofconstruction may be desired.

It should also be further noted, that I do not limit myself to utilizingthe particular form of jaws illustrated in the drawings asV these may beof any shape or character suitable to the gripping? of the particulartype of work which the wrench is intended to handle, or to suit the modeor direction in which the jaws of the wrench are to be applied to thework. Thus the jaws may be or" a. type intended to grip the work in anendwise manner, instead of being laterally applied thereto, in whichcase, of course, the handle of the wrench might also be suitably offsetor shaped to permit the application of the wrench` to the Work in thatmanner. Y

This invention may be developed within the scope of the following claimswithout departing from the essential features of the said invention, andit is desired that the specification and drawing be read as beingmerelyv illustra-.tive of a practical embodiment of the same and not instrictly limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. In an adjustable wrench having a. xed jaw and a slidable jaw, a widehead member carrying the xed jaw, and a. laterally movable memberoverlapping said head member and carrying said slidable jaw', saidmembers having interlocking tongue-and-groove formations extendingtransversely of theirabutting surfaces with the upper and lower edges ofsaid formations spaced to permit slight rocking oi lthe slidable jawwhen operated against work to effect initial frictional locking contactbetween said formations at two points to resist further opening of saidjaws when the wrench is operated against such work, said members beingprovided with further spaced abutments spaced to further contact uponadditional pressure of Work applied to said movable jaw to extentflexing said movable jaw member.

2. In an adjustable wrench having a fixed jaw and a slidable jaw, a widehead member carrying the iixed jaw, and a laterally movable memberoverlapping said head member and carrying said slidable jaw, saidmembers having interlocking longitudinally tapered tongue-and-grooveformations extending transversely of their abutting surfaces with theupper and lower edges of said formations spaced to permit slight rockingof the slidable jaw when operated against work to effeet initialfrictional locking contact between said formations at two points toresist further opening of said jaws when the wrench is operated againstsuch work, said members being provided with further spaced abutmentsspaced to further contact upon additional pressure of work applied tosaid movable jaw to an extent flexing said movable jaw member.

OSWALD M. GROSS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName y Date 1,335,293 Norwood Mar. 30, 1920 1,500,310 I-Iacheney July 8,1924 1,715,426 Peterson June 4, 1929 1,754,050 Rivers Apr. 8, 19302,653,501 Hunter Sept, 29, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS n Number Country Date630,761 France Aug. 29, 1927

